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What parents need to know

Cute song about puppy love is light on message, but is positive and playful.

Positive role models

Grande seems like a good girl who will "stay by your side" and "never leave," but she also claims to have a "bad boy," and she doesn't care who knows it.

Violence

Not applicable

Sex

The innuendos are a bit provocative, with some phrases that might make parents uncomfortable, like "You a princess in public, but a freak when it's time," and "your bed be feeling lonely so you're sleeping in mine." The lyrics also refer to kissing, and the music video shows Grande and Mac Miller making out.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this catchy single from Nickelodeon star Ariana Grande is full of teeny-bopper lust and some mildly suggestive lyrics, but is basically good, clean fun. Emulating R&B and pop stars from the '90s and early '00s like Mariah Carey and Destiny's Child, Grande belts it out like a diva, while rapper Mac Miller breezes through a verse about wanting to watch movies and "explore" with a girl he's "got some feelings for." The song is just a bit out of reach for the target age of Grande's show, Victorious, and is more appropriate for older tweens.

User reviews

Parents say

Kids say

What's the story?

Ariana Grande, the 19-year-old star of the Nickelodeon tween comedy Victorious, is looking to get into the pop music game with this playfully seductive first single from her forthcoming debut album, Daydreamin'. The track features a guest verse from rising rapper Mac Miller, while the video finds the two dancing, flirting, and kissing as Grande sings "I love the way you make me feel," and Mac encourages her to "hit me on my celly."

Is it any good?

QUALITY

Catchy and groovy with a party vibe and hip-hop sound, this song is perfect for older tweens and young teens falling in love -- or something like it -- for the first time. While the lyrics aren't particularly memorable or profound, they reflect a time of innocent passion and the excitement of raging hormones. Grande is a strong singer with a nice soulful voice, while Miller's flow is natural and inoffensive. The production is solid and simple, reminiscent of Beyonce or Aaliyah or any number of pop and R&B idols from a somewhat-bygone era.

Families can talk about...

Families can talk about Ariana Grande. She's following in the footsteps of other young television stars, like Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus, who have branched out into music careers. What do you think of this sort of screen-to-stage transition?

Why do you think Grande collaborated with up-and-coming rapper Mac Miller on this song? Does featuring a boy and a girl change the dynamic of the song?

Why do you think Grande chose to release such a relatively edgy single given her popularity with kids and young tweens?

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What parents and kids say

Former Nickelodeon star spices up some things with sexy single

"The Way" is an R&amp;B single by Arianda Grande and Mac Miller. The song only carries a problem in sexuality. The song talks about how the singer "love[s] the way" her partner engages in sexual intercourse with her. I recommend this single to anyone older than 9.

Very cool song; Some innuendo

Musically, this is a very good, smooth song. Ariana Grande is a surprisngly good singer; I'll be looking out for more of her songs in the future. I don't really like the rap, but overall it's great. Parents should know this song does contain some innuendo ("You're a princess in public/but a freak when it's time", "You're bed be feeling lonely so you're sleeping in mine"). There's also the negative message of being in a relationship with someone who's no good ("I've got a bad boy/I must admit it"). I'd say it's okay for middle schoolers.

I am now 25 Years Old so this Sexual Innuendo is PG-13 with R mixed in.

Positive Message 0/10: None what so ever Positive Role Model 0/10: Because of the Sexual Innuendo this song has none what so ever. Violence 0/10: Not an Issue Sex 8/10: A Little Bit of Sexual Innuendo a PG-13 Song with these lines "You a princess in public, but a freak when it's time," and "your bed be feeling lonely so you're sleeping in mine." So I look at the 2nd &amp; 3rd line of this and your song is now an R Rated Song. Sex that looks Innuendo is really the content itself. Language 1/10 Freak (This can turn out to be bad to.) Consumerism 5/10: Victorious a Nickelodeon Show. Drinking, Drugs, &amp; Smoking 2/10 He uses the word Crush and in fact in this song he smokes an illegal drug which is weed. Overall for Positives 0/20: Sex can show this song is a Negative with both Messages &amp; Role Models Overall for Content 16/50: This is an Iffy song for 15- 16 On for 17+ Note: He samples Big Pun's I'm not a Player. Mac saying this in this song "I'm not a Player. I just crush a lot." This Review is done by me GSN Hatena.

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